Toledo Mud Hens Opening Day guide for 2025: Everything you need to know

TOLEDO, Ohio — Play ball!

The Toledo Mud Hens are set for Opening Day at Fifth Third Field on Friday, March 28 at 4:05 p.m. against the Columbus Clippers.

This is the third consecutive season that Opening Day, known as the biggest party in Toledo, will be held on a Friday at Fifth Third Field in downtown.

From promotional events, tickets, parking, a new manager and more, here’s what you need to know about Opening Day and the rest of the 2025 Mud Hens season.

There are five Opening Day ticket packages available for fans.

• Ticket + beer: 1 ticket, 2 beers and a koozie ($40)
• Ticket + blanket: 1 ticket, a limited-edition Mud Hens blanket ($30)
• Ticket + hat: 1 ticket, a Mud Hens hat ($32)
• Ticket + tumbler: 1 ticket, a Mud Hens tumbler ($30)
• Ticket + popcorn + pop: 1 ticket, a box of popcorn and a can of pop. ($40)

The Mud Hens are offering a handful of ticket options for this season including partial, half, full and custom plans.

• Partial plans: 10 or 18 games
• Half plans: 36 games
• Full plans: 75 games
• Custom plans: You pick 10 or more games

Each plan offers certain benefits such as an invite to an Opening Day party, team autograph events and special member gifts.

The team is also offering five-game plans for this season.

• Fireworks plan: This package includes tickets to five postgame fireworks nights ($70)
• Inflatable theme park plan: Ticket package for Sunday Family Days to enjoy the inflatable theme park in Hensville Park and other family activities ($55)
• Baseball fan plan: See the top prospects for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians and Chicago Cubs as the Hens take on division rivals ($70)
• Giveaways plan: This package includes five exclusive giveaway games. ($70 — giveaways are not guaranteed)

For all available ticket options, click here.

Only debit and credit cards will be accepted as payment throughout the ballpark.

Mobile payment methods such as ApplePay and Google Pay will be accepted at concessions and The Swamp Shop.

The Mud Hens say there are 950 metered parking spaces in downtown Toledo for those attending a game.

In addition, there are thousands of spaces in garages and surface lots, many within three blocks of Fifth Third Field. Although Fifth Third Field is a cashless venue, some parking lots near the ballpark are cash-only.

The Mud Hens say if you are just stopping by the ticket office or Swamp Shop, the best place to park is along St. Clair or Superior streets.

The Mud Hens released their 2025 promotional schedule in January that featured fan favorites returning, as well as some new theme nights for fans to enjoy.

There will be over a dozen postgame fireworks shows and eight Hens and Hounds nights, fan favorites at Fifth Third Field.

Some theme nights include Military Appreciation Night, Boots and Baseball Weekend, Harry Potter Weekend, 90s Weekend, Margaritaville Weekend, Tigers Night, and Dino Day.

The Mud Hens will also have a Toledo Jeep Fest Weekend, featuring country music singer Graham Barham headlining the Jeep Fest concert at Hensville Park on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 9:30 p.m.

The Hens will also be the Toledo Mud Crawlers for six games this season, including during Jeep Fest Weekend. The team says this alternate identity pays homage to the city’s love of and history with Jeep.

For a full list of promotional events for the 2025 season, click here.

Toledo will have a new manager on Opening Day as Gabe Alvarez takes over for Tim Federowicz.

He will become the 12th manager for the Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field and 60th in Toledo baseball history. Alvarez spent time with the Mud Hens as a player from 1998 to 2000.

Returning to the Mud Hens coaching staff is Mud Hens minor-league legend and “Home Run King” Mike Hessman as hitting coach, and pitching coach Doug Bochtler.